Developing Murder

By Harvey Caras

Serenity Estates, Port St. Lucie, Florida, 2018. A human skull, buried over twenty years earlier, has been uncovered by the construction crew of the new fifty-five plus housing development. Dynamite detective Lisa March, reluctantly teamed with a new, polar opposite partner, JoJo Worthington, is given the challenging assignment to figure out who

• Language: English
• Publisher: YM Press
• Release date: Mar 4, 2021
• ISBN: 9780578872322

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Developing

Murder

A Lisa March Mystery

by Harvey S. Caras

Developing Murder

A Lisa March Mystery

Copyright © 2021 by Harvey S. Caras

ISBN 978-0-578-87232-2

First Printing, March 2021

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Cover design by Carasmatic Design

Published by YM Press

Printed in the United States of America

To Joanne, my real life JoJo, who inspires me every day with her energy, love, style, and passion for everything she does.

To Jonathan, Rachel, and Mickey,

who have made me the proudest dad on the planet.

To Sarah, Dan, and Leah,

whose love for my children makes my heart sing.

To Zahava, Shalom, Chaya, Vivian, Yossi, Adam,

Kobi, Rivka, Amy, Mendel, Chana, Sarale,

and all of the little Caras’s to come.

To Lisa November and all of the friends who have been kind enough to join me on this novel writing journey.

CHAPTER 1

November 14, 2018, 12:10 PM

Port St. Lucie, Florida

Three, two, one……

Good afternoon, everyone. This is Chris White with TV 12 news at noon. I’m here with my partner, Lynn Farrell.

Well, Chris, some exciting developments in Port St. Lucie today. The ground breaking ceremony for a brand new community that promises to be something we’ve never seen before.

That’s right, Lynn, and for that story let’s go to our correspondent, Dory Cameron, live on the scene in Port St. Lucie.

Hello, Lynn and Chris, and hello everyone. I’m here in Port St. Lucie for the ceremonial ground breaking of a hot new development by Porter Homes, a project that has a lot of people talking.

I’m joined here by the Vice President of Marketing for Porter Homes, Tim Cleveland. Hi Tim!

Hi Dory. Yes we’re all very excited about this new concept in adult living, and we know from the number of people waiting to purchase homes here that we’re breaking ground today on a truly ground breaking concept in senior living.

Tim, what makes this new development different from the many other senior communities that seemed to have sprung up throughout Port St. Lucie?

Well, Dory, as you can see by the sign here, our new community is called Serenity.

Yes, I noticed that, Tim, so why Serenity?

Up until now, Dory, all of the fifty-five plus communities have catered to adults who want to be active. They feature swimming, jogging, tennis, Pickleball, fitness centers, and bike trails.

Those seem to be very popular.

They are, Dory, and Porter Homes has developed several communities like that throughout Florida.

But Serenity is different?

What makes Serenity so unique is that this community is for seniors who want to relax, and the whole community is being built with that in mind.

So, no physical activities?

Of course, we’ll have plenty of activities for those who want them, but on a smaller scale. Our focus will be on providing a calming atmosphere for seniors who just want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the world.

How so, Tim?

For example, Dory, our entire community will be built using Feng Shui as our guiding principle. We have a full time Feng Shui consultant who will oversee the construction of all of our facilities and homes.

That sounds very interesting.

We’re also planning a beautiful butterfly sanctuary and a series of orchid gardens, each built and maintained by a full-time staff of experts.

Okay, and what activities will there be for residents?

Our pools, for example, will feature lazy rivers, where our residents can lie back in an inner tube and be gently moved along the river while calming music plays.

"That’s really relaxing, Tim, so what else?

Our homes will be totally maintenance free, Dory. We plan to have a full time staff of maintenance specialists available to handle anything our residents need.

That sounds great! I know my husband would appreciate that at our house! So what other special activities can we look forward to at Serenity?

Yoga will be taught every day in our special yoga studio, Dory, and we’ll have meditation, massages, acupuncture, chiropractic, and reiki for those who want them. We’ll also have a fully staffed urgent care facility on site that will be available for our residents twenty-four, seven.

That’s important.

But I think the most important feature of our community will be twenty- four hour concierge service for our residents.

Concierge? What does that entail, Tim?

It means that the residents of Serenity can do as much or as little as they want to do in their daily lives. Anything they don’t want to do for themselves we’ll do for them.

For example?

For example, our concierge staff will make reservations for restaurants, doctors appointments, and other activities, just like a five start hotel would do. They’ll even shop for the residents, online or in stores. There’s nothing that a Serenity resident could ask for that won’t be done for them. Our goal is to make life as easy and peaceful as we can.

Sounds very interesting, Tim. Have people started buying homes in Serenity yet?

Dory, the response has been overwhelming. People keep asking when we’re gonna start selling homes in Serenity.

So, what answer are they getting to that question?

Well, our models are under construction now, and, as you can see behind us, the equipment is just getting started on our entrance. I’m very excited about this entrance because I can assure you that this entrance will be like nothing Port St. Lucie has ever seen before. We hope to have our models completed by the end of January and then we’ll begin selling homes.

Let’s take a look at what’s happening behind us, Tim. I see that a man is walking towards us. What is that he’s carrying?

Folks, you won’t believe this. But it looks like the construction crew here at Serenity has unearthed a skull! Back to you in the studio.

Does it look like a human skull, Dory?

It looks like it to me, Lynn. Oh yes, that is definitely the skull of a person!

Well, Chris, apparently that place wasn’t serenity for at least one poor soul!

You know, Lynn, here at TV 12 we’ve always wanted to be featured on the national news. I think we will tonight!

You’re right about that, Chris. Let’s go to a commercial while we figure out exactly what’s going on at Serenity in Port St. Lucie.

CHAPTER 2

November 14, 2018, 1:00 PM

Police Headquarters

Port St. Lucie, Florida

March, Worthington, my office, came the booming voice of Captain Bob Davis.

Davis was a grizzled thirty year veteran of the force and everyone knew that when he called you by your last name it meant you were either in trouble or you were needed for something important.

Within seconds Detectives Lisa March and JoJo Worthington were in the captain’s office.

What’s up, boss? Lisa said.

I got a strange one for you guys, Davis replied, "they just found a human skull at a construction site off Becker Road.

Just the skull? JoJo asked, Where’s the rest of the skeleton?

I imagine it’s not too far away from where they found the skull, Lisa replied. Are they looking for it, boss?

Not yet, Lisa. Davis responded, that’s why I need you guys over there.

You want us to shut them down?

Do whatever you have to do to get them to cooperate, okay? Captain Davis said, we need to find the rest of the skeleton and I don’t have the budget to pay for a crew to look for it.

I got ya’, boss, we’ll take care of it. Lisa said.

As JoJo exited the office to pick up her bag, Lisa stayed behind to speak with the captain.

Why’d you do it, boss? Lisa asked quietly.

Do what? Captain Davis responded.

Why did you take Danny Torres away from me and pair me up with Worthington?

Well, the captain replied, after Lonny Carter died, Beth Danelo needed a new partner. I thought Torres would work well with her, so I paired them up.

But Danny and I made a great team! Lisa pleaded, you know that, boss!

No denying that, Lisa, you guys cracked the Pickleball case. You’re two of my best so I decided to split you up and make two strong teams.

Okay, Lisa responded, I get that, but why me and the hat lady?

The hat lady?

Come on, Captain, Lisa said, she wears a different hat every day. You never noticed?

Of course I noticed, Captain Davis replied, but I don’t give a rat’s ass what she wears, I think you guys will be great together, even if you don’t think so!

But boss, it’s just…

Just what, March, just what?

It’s like we clash, Captain. We’re like oil and water, that’s all.

Well then get over it, you hear me? You’re both professionals and I expect you to act like it, got it?

Got it, Captain, Lisa said stoically.

Lisa March and JoJo Worthington were as different as night day. Both forty-three and both long term veterans of the department, that’s where the similarities ended. Lisa had dark curly hair, was a conservative wife and mother who dressed in dark slacks and gray tops, fitting of a serious detective, she thought.

JoJo, on the other hand, was a blond who, to Lisa, never seemed serious about her career. She loved to wear bright, outrageous, and totally inappropriate clothes that were bought for her by her wealthy husband. Lisa couldn’t remember ever seeing JoJo in the same outfit twice.

These differences carried over to their styles as detectives, too. Lisa cherished her reputation as a tough, hard nosed cop who wasn’t afraid to mix it up with anyone. At five feet tall and barely one hundred pounds she was by far the star of the department.

JoJo Worthington, Lisa thought, was her polar opposite. She loved being the center of attention, often bringing homemade cookies and other treats for everyone in the precinct. It seemed to Lisa that JoJo was more interested in the attention she got for her hour glass figure, her inappropriate clothes, and her collection of hats than what she got from solving crimes.

The bottom line was that Lisa missed the team she had built with Dan Torres and was not looking forward to working with a flake like JoJo Worthington.

In spite of her feelings, however, Lisa knew that she needed to find a way to work successfully with JoJo, or they both would suffer the wrath of Captain Davis.

As they walked toward their car, Lisa looked at JoJo and said, you know we’re going to a construction site, don’t you?

Of course I do, Lisa, why? JoJo replied.

Lisa looked at JoJo’s pink dress, pink hat, pink purse, and pink open-toed shoes. You wanna change first?

Sorry, partner, JoJo replied, this is all I got, but don’t worry, I’ll make it work.

Uh huh, Lisa replied, I’m sure you will.

Within ten minutes Lisa and JoJo were at the Serenity construction site. As they walked closer Lisa noticed that all of the men had stopped working and were sitting on top of their heavy equipment. A few catcalls greeted them.

A team of uniformed officers was keeping the TV crew and gawkers at bay.

JoJo and Lisa pushed their way through the crowd. Within seconds they were met by two men, one of whom was carrying a large plastic bag.

Gentlemen, Lisa began, flashing her badge, my name is detective Lisa March and this is detective Joanne Worthington.

The younger of the two men spoke first.

My name is Tim Cleveland. I’m the vice president of marketing for Porter Homes, and this is our construction superintendent, Tony Bianco.

Gentlemen, I understand you had a big surprise today, JoJo said.

We sure did, Bianco replied, holding up the plastic bag and handing it to Lisa.

Is this the skull? Lisa said as she peeked inside the bag.

One of our front end loaders came up with it right over there’ Bianco said, pointing to an area just behind them.

Any other parts of the skeleton turn up yet? JoJo asked.

No, Bianco replied, we stopped digging until you guys could get here. We didn’t want to mess things up for you.

I appreciate that, Mr. Bianco, Lisa replied, once you dug up that skull this whole area became a crime scene.

Crime scene? Tim Cleveland asked, what does that mean for us?

I’m afraid It means that we have to shut this project down until we find the rest of that skeleton, JoJo replied.

"But, how long will that take?’ Cleveland asked.

That’s up to you guys, Lisa replied.

How is that up to us? Bianco asked.

If we have to bring in a new construction crew to dig things up in here it could take a month before we get them in place, JoJo said.

We can’t wait that long! Cleveland yelled. We’ve got a deadline to meet.

Well then, Lisa replied, we can make things go a lot faster if we can use your crew and equipment to do the digging.

Okay, Bianco said, my team is here. Just tell us what you want us to do.

I was hoping you would say that, Lisa responded, we’ll have a team of officers out here at 8 a.m. sharp tomorrow morning to supervise the search. They’ll probably bring a cadaver dog.

My team will be here, too, Bianco said.

If the skull was found here then the rest of the body shouldn’t be too far away, JoJo said.

I’m not so sure, Cleveland relied, this site was dug up about ten years ago by another developer, but they went bankrupt and never finished the job.

So the rest of the skeleton could be anywhere, Lisa said.

Wherever it is, we’ll find it, Cleveland replied.

As Lisa and JoJo stepped into their car, Lisa once again looked at the skull inside the bag. Poor bastard, she said quietly.

Think we can figure out who it is? JoJo asked.

We’ve got the best coroner and forensics team in the state, Lisa replied, if they can’t do it, nobody can.

Hey Lisa, JoJo said, that was a great job we did getting them to do the digging for us, wasn’t it?

Captain Davis should be happy about that! Lisa replied.

I think we’re gonna make a great team, partner! JoJo said with a grin.

The jury’s still out on that one, Lisa thought.

CHAPTER 3

November 14, 2018, 7:00 PM

The home of Lisa and Rick March

Get the camera ready, Rick, Lisa said, they’re walking up to the door now.

Shhh, Lisa’s sister, Carol whispered, don’t spoil the surprise.

The front door opened and Lisa’s parents, Gloria and Ernie Goodman, came walking in.

Surprise! came the roar from the assembled group of twelve guests.

Happy birthday, Daddy! Lisa said, as she hugged her father.

Oh, what a surprise! Ernie said, I never expected this. Hello everybody, thanks for coming!

Happy birthday, Ernie, Rick said with a smile.

Lisa hugged her mother.

I told him about the surprise, Lisa.

Why’d you do that, Mom?

Look, honey, your father’s eighty years old. I didn’t want him to have a heart attack when he walked in here.

Typical Mom, Lisa thought, always needs to do things her way.

Hey, Dad, Lisa said, Rick, Lexie, and I bought you a birthday present.

You didn’t need to do that, Lisa!

I know, Dad, you’re always doing things for us but you never want us to dote on you. Well, guess what? Today’s your day!

Ernie Goodman was a small man, standing no more than five foot four. A retired police captain in Broward County, Ernie was still as sharp as ever.

For their whole lives he had always been the rock of Gibraltar to Lisa and her sister, Carol. While Mom was often moody and sullen, Dad was upbeat and happy. I don’t know how he stayed so happy living with Mom, Lisa often said.

Ernie opened the present. A Pickleball paddle! he said with a grin, and you got exactly the brand I wanted. Thanks!

Now that I’m taking lessons, Daddy, you and I are gonna play together.

The party consisted of four pizzas that Rick had ordered, punch that Lisa made, and a chocolate ice cream birthday cake that Carol had brought. All of their guests were gone by 9:00.

I hope they had a good time, Mom, Lisa said, cause they left awfully early.

No, honey’ her mother replied, that’s what time all of our parties end!

After saying goodbye to the last guest, Ernie turned his attention to his daughter.

Hey, honey, Ernie said softly, I heard you’re working on a skull that got dug up in a construction site.

Yeah, Dad, I am.

Did you figure out who it is yet?

Not yet, Dad, Lisa replied, the only thing we know for sure is that it’s a man, and he’s been dead between twenty and thirty years.

Any word from the coroner about trauma to the skull? Ernie asked, do they know how it was separated from the rest of the body?

Good question, Dad, Lisa replied, I thought maybe we had a deranged killer who beheaded the victim, but the coroner assured me that the head was broken off by the construction equipment

Could they figure out from the skull how the victim died?

Apparently the vic was shot through the mouth.

Ouch! That’ll do it! So the teeth are gone?

I’m afraid so. Nothing to match dental records with.

How about results from the DNA?

You’re so funny, Dad, Lisa laughed, you retired before they even had DNA!

Almost, it was just getting started when I left the force. But I know that DNA solves every crime now, dear, Ernie said, we both know that!

Yes, Dad, I suppose that’s true, Lisa replied, and we did get DNA from the skull, but so far no matches in the CODUS system.

So you don’t know who he is, or was?

No, not yet. All we know is how long he’d been dead, Lisa said, Oh, and that he was between thirty-five and forty-five when he died.

Any more body parts show up at the crime scene?

Yesterday they found a left leg that matches the skull, so they say now the guy was about six feet tall to six foot two.

So, what do you do next?

Well, we’ve spent the last three days searching through every missing persons case between 1985 and two thousand to see if we can find a thirty-five to forty-five year old man.

Any luck?

Nothing so far.

Geez, honey, have you thought about Jimmy Foster?

Who?

Jimmy Foster, Ernie replied, I guess you don’t remember him, but your mother and I will never forget him.

Is he the guy that stole your money?

That’s him, Ernie said, it was 1995, you were in college and Carol had just married Martin, so your mother and I decided to downsize and move up here to the new Jimmy Foster adult community in Port St. Lucie.

I remember now. I was at FSU, but I remember how you guys got screwed.

Us, and about five hundred other couples, honey. We lost thirty grand!

Jimmy Foster disappeared with all of the deposits and he never built the houses, right?

That’s what we all thought, Lisa, Ernie replied, "but maybe he didn’t disappear, maybe he’s been dead all these years.